Not Another One

Tim Montgomerie explains why he has defected from the Conservative party to Reform. Will the Farage surge continue and sweep him into power or will it fade away? Our team discuss the Reform leader and how the other parties will respond.

For more than a decade politics has been defined by the rise of the outsider, in the US with Trump and his supporters and in the UK with Brexit and much more. Our team ask whether this trend has peaked. Or is there more to come? What is behind voter alienation? Is it all about migration or is there more going on? What’s the role of technology?

Labour and Reform have attacked the previous government for introducing an “open borders” immigration policy. Net migration in the year up to the summer of 2023 was more than 900k. What is the likely political impact? And who is right?

In the light of John Prescott’s death and the outpouring of tributes across the political spectrum we explore the role of the deputy in politics, from Clement Attlee to Willie Whitelaw to Michael Heseltine to Nick Clegg to Angela Rayner.

Fleetingly we become MPs and declare how we would vote in next week’s potentially historic debate, while reflecting on the unusual politics around the Bill. Plus, is the economy heading for another deep crisis?

Captured at a live recording in Glasgow the team delve deep. What are we to make of the new president’s appointments? And how wobbly is Keir Starmer’s administration?

After barely a week in the job, and her first PMQs squaring up to Starmer, does the party's new leader have the skills and judgment to rebuild after defeat? The team tussle over her strengths, weaknesses and strategic challenges.

Seen as a fascist by some and a hero by many who voted for him Trump is so ubiquitous everyone thinks they know him. But do they? Where is he really on the political spectrum? What is his policy agenda likely to be and how should Keir Starmer respond?